Manage and Support Student Employees

On-campus employment can be a high impact experience for our students, but it takes intentional support. From to on-boarding, to performance evaluations, and recognition, we have resources and templates that will support your development as an effective supervisor.

• New Employee Orientation and Onboarding
• Supporting your Team
• Providing Formal and Informal Feedback
• Addressing Performance Issues
• Appreciation and Recognition
• Offboarding and the Separation Process

• For many students, an on-campus position is their first experience in a professional work environment. It is especially important that supervisors take time to plan onboarding that helps students understand their role in the department, shape positive workplace behaviors, and understand the tasks and expectations of their day-to-day roles. The Student Employee Department Onboarding Guide and Checklist helps supervisors plan their onboarding goals and schedules.
• Many student employees come into contact with personal and confidential information. They should review and sign a Student Employee Confidentiality Agreement.
• Student employees who assist with event planning may need access to the Event Management System. Request access to the Event Management System.

• As a supervisor you may encounter signs that your student employees are experiencing distress. Visit the WashU Cares Recognizing Behaviors of Concern page to learn more about distress indicators and their Red Folder Project to learn how, when, and where to report.

• While many workplace concerns can be addressed through performance management or coaching, some may also constitute potential violations of the University Student Conduct Code. If you become aware of behavior that may violate the Student Conduct Code, including but not limited to concerns involving academic integrity, safety, hazing, harassment, violence, theft, or other prohibited conduct, please submit an incident report to the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards as soon as possible. For concerns involving hazing, supervisors should also review the University’s Hazing Policy and reporting resources. Additional information, including reporting options and prevention resources, is available on the University’s Hazing webpage. You do not need to determine whether a Student Conduct Code violation has occurred. Instead:
  • Submit an incident report to the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards
  • Document the facts, including what occurred, when it happened, who was involved and any relevant information.
  • Address immediate workplace needs but avoid conducting your own investigation.
  • Maintain appropriate confidentiality by sharing information only with individuals who have a legitimate need to know.
  • If you have questions, please contact the Office of Student Conduct Community Standards: studentconduct@wustl.edu.
  • After an incident report is received, the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards will review the information to determine whether the reported behavior may constitute a violation of the Student Conduct Code. Submitting a referral does not automatically result in disciplinary action.

• Plan to celebrate National Student Employment Week the second week of April.
• Learn how your student employees want to be recognized with this Student Employee Recognition Questionnaire.
• Nominate your student employee for WashU’s Outstanding Student Employee Award, sponsored by Campus Life. Submit a nomination (due in March).
• Check out these 25 Ways to Appreciate Your Student Employees.
• Recognize your exceptional student workers on the Center for Career Engagement’s website with a Student Employee Spotlight Story. Nominate your student with this Student Employee Spotlight questionnaire.

More Resources Coming Soon!

This is a new and growing website. Have a question that you think could be answered here or an idea for a resource? Let us know!